WITH 167 kidney dialysis patients in the country, the newly opened Fiji National Kidney Centre in Nadera, Nasinu is expected to ease treatment for patients.
Officiating at the opening of the centre yesterday, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said the new facility offered treatment for chronic kidney disease which is an issue for far too many Fijians and the families that loved and cared for them.
He said the centre would provide dialysis treatment for about 40 patients a week with 180 dialysis sessions, and those services could be scaled up to meet demands.
“There are major types of kidney dialysis treatments: acute and chronic or long-term,” he said.
“Acute dialysis services are offered at the CWM Hospital and the Lautoka Hospital.
“The Government subsidises those treatments for our citizens with an annual allocation of $100,000. ”
Fijians suffer from NCDs, like diabetes, at an unacceptable rate and as any of these doctors will tell you that is one of the leading reasons why these dialysis treatments are in such high demand.
“We can’t only treat the symptoms and complications of this disease; we have to get to the root cause of what is indeed a Fijian health crisis.”
“Acute dialysis services are offered at the CWM Hospital and the Lautoka Hospital and the Government subsidises those treatments for our citizens with an annual allocation of $100,000.”
Meanwhile, Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr James Fong says under the subsidy program, patients will now pay $75 while the other half will be borne by the Government.
